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LIKE ANYWHERE else, the schools in Kenya could boast many truly loved teachers and educators and a few forgettable ones. Mrs Muriel Thampy among a group of teachers at the St Teresa's Girls School in Eastleigh who to this day remain unforgettable, cherished and to whom many, many students feel indebted to for always. She will always be remembered as a brilliant secondary school maths teacher. Mrs Thampy was widowed early in the marriage and she raised seven children all on her own. She never flinched. Always quietly resolute. Her children have migrated to various parts of the world but should be there for the memorial service.
A mum who worked hard and did her best for us, we were dressed very well and every year she took us to Mombasa and Lamu for a holiday. There were many little things she did for us, which we appreciated later. == Radha Shridharan
Mrs Thampy's flock (ex-students) and family are getting together in London to celebrate what could have been her 100th birthday on November 3, Mass and restaurant lunch. If you would like to join them please give call Radha's mobile number:07900 683 519.... filling fast.
If her ex-students would like to remember her, please send your thoughts to skipfer@live.com.au and I will forward them to Radha.
My dear Radha,
I was so happy to hear
about the Centenary Memorial Celebration for your dear Mum to
be held on November 3, 2019 and I thank you for your kind invitation.
I have wonderful memories of
our early days in Nairobi, when both our families got together at weekends or
holidays. I had a few sleepovers at yours in Nagara. I remember
those hundreds of steps we climbed to get to
your home. I know my sister, Christine, has written to you and we
agreed that both your family and ours had similar backgrounds. I think
having our mums as teachers probably stood us in good stead later in
life!! “Miss Muriel” was my maths teacher in secondary school – but
despite being a close family friend, she never once showed me any
favouritism. On the contrary, she was a lot more strict when it
came to me.
I can honestly say I wasn’t her
best student – maybe one of the worst. I showed no interest at all in the
subject . Geometry, Algebra. Trignometry all brought me out in
cold sweats!!!.......however, in my final year “mocks” ..the 7 marks out of 100
I got in Algebra was a huge achievement for me!!! Aunty
Muriel was not one bit impressed – and my mum, Prexy, even less
so! In the end they had to concede that I was never going to be a “Maths Girl”…...Never!!!!!
I am not sure if you remember
this, but one Sunday your family came over to lunch when
we lived in Fort Hall Road ( 60 years
ago). While both the mums made themselves comfortable in the
“sitting room” drinking many cups of tea and putting the world to rights, their
menfolk cooked the most delicious Pilau with
chopped “Uplands Chipolatas” in a giant “Sufria”. They did the
best they could – however, my dad was not impressed with having to constantly
top up the “jiko” with charcoal ...We never heard the end of it! It
was after that fiasco that we got our first proper cooker! Happy
days!
You children were a credit to
your mum – she was a wonderful mother and role model, not just to her own
children, but to the three of us. Strict but loving. I am so
glad you are celebrating her life and achievements next month – she will be
looking down on you all with that special smile!
Sadly, as I explained to
you, I am unable to attend the Memorial Celebrations, much as I would have
liked to, as that is the day I will be
attending a Memorial Service for
the deceased students of the Dr Ribeiro Goan School
Nairobi.
Give my love to all the family
and enjoy the celebrations. I look forward to hearing all about it
and seeing the photos.
Lots of Love and God Bless,
Bunny
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| Leela Aruna Muriel Ashokh |
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| Top pic the serene Mrs Thampy and with the teachers at St Teresa's ...everyone a gem! |
2 comments:
Dear Mrs. Thampy was my neighbor in Ngara. I used to go to her home for Tuition. I still keeep in touch with her family. God Bless them all!
Roy Pacheco
While not my class teacher, Mural was a teacher at the Catholic Parochial and St Teacher. She was a dear friend. As I cant attend from down under, I would be most grateful if my brief message is read at the gathering. Jambo all the CPS and St. Teresa lads and ladies. 60 odds years have passed, am 82 now, and I recall Muriel, her kids, especially Ashok and her brother Sydney Lewis. Unfortunately, I was not in her class but we saw her at school and held her in high respect and regards. Muriel was an amazingly brave and a gutsy lady, who raised a family of wonderful children, all by herself, with great devotion to them as well to life, casting aside the biases and communal barbs that our women were often were subjected to, which she often shared with me, during a few meals at her Ngara flat. Muriel showed them all they had someone tough to contend with, and Muriel a super Mum put them all to silence. Among you all gathered hear, I still recall most of the names from CPS and St. Teresa, to mention here her other charges, all her students. Mural taught us all by her life example, that no matter what adversity besets us, we can overcome it all, if we put our shoulder to it. Dear Muriel, thank you for being a part of my like. May you now continue to have eternal peace. To you all, too many to mention by names which I still recall, at 82 years,jambo from Australia. I pray that
the Lord blesses you all with love , happiness and joy in your lives. Kwaheri, dear friends of old and new. Kersi Rustomji.
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